The surgery lasts about two hours depending on the injuries in your knee.Any other injury to your meniscus or other ligaments may be repaired at this time.In allograft surgery, the graft comes from a cadaver ( see the retear risk calculators). In autograft surgery, the graft is taken (harvested) from your patellar, hamstring or quad tendons. A replacement tendon (called a graft) is placed in both tunnels and anchored with screws or sutures.One hole or tunnel is drilled in the femur.The doctor inserts cameras and small tools and cuts and removes the torn ACL.The inside of your knee is flushed with sterile saline solution.These are for small arthroscopic instruments including lights and cameras that allow the surgery to be done without opening up your knee. The surgeon makes two to three small incisions in your knee.Some surgeons never use bracing, some always use a brace, and others just use a. This means you’ll be unconscious during the operation. Bracing after ACL surgery is purely dependent on patient and surgeon preference. The graft is strong enough at six months post-surgery to withstand load associated with sporting movement but continues to mature over the course of the following six to twelve months.What Happens in ACL Reconstruction Surgery? This early bonding of the graft takes approximately six weeks for patellar tendon grafts and ten weeks for hamstring tendons. Screws are placed to wedge the graft against the wall of the tunnels to give immediate stability and allow healing of the new graft. The graft is then pulled into these bone tunnels and spans the knee joint. While viewing the inside of the joint through the arthroscope, guides are used to drill bony tunnels to allow placement of the graft. During surgery any other structures damaged during the injury will also be repaired. However, an incision is required to harvest the graft over the front of the knee. The majority of the operation is performed arthroscopically (key-hole surgery). The graft chosen will vary according to the patient and depends on other injuries, sports, occupation and individual anatomical variations. The two most commonly used grafts are constructed from either the patellar tendon or the hamstring tendons. The aim is to position this graft within the knee to take the place of the torn ACL and mimic its stabilising function. The operation involves replacing the torn ACL with a graft taken from another part of the knee. ACL SurgeryĪn individual embarking on ACL reconstruction should have an understanding of the procedure and fully commit to the rehabilitation process. ACL reconstruction offers excellent stability and outcomes on return to sport for athletes who are motivated and compliant with the rehabilitation programme. Repeated unstable episodes are to be avoided as it increases the likelihood of cartilage damage in the knee and increases wear and tear in the longer term. Return to these higher-level sporting activities is the principal indication for ACL reconstruction. Young athletes and athletes looking to return to sports involving twisting, turning, and landing will most likely require reconstruction. If you have appropriate lower limb strength and control, then low-level activities are possible. It is possible to function without your ACL. How will my knee function if ACL is ruptured?